The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-19
The

since she came from the boarding
school in Philadelphia to preside over
her fathers house with pretty airs of
control which Mrs. Wells, the actual
housekeeper. never resented or contra
dicted. Her beauty was of the ex-
quisitely delicate type peculiar to
American girls of the refined. educat-
I'd class-the aristocracy of this demo-
cratic land. Her hair of golden brown
covered her tall, slender figure like a
veil in fine threads of richest gold.
Her eyes were deep hazel, shaded by
long, golden-brown lashes, and her
features were cut as clearly and regu-
larry as fine cameo. Hands and feet
were small and slender, not thin, for her
whole figure was gracefully rounded.
But her greatest perfection was a skin
rs fair, soft and spotless as that of a
miniature painting.
When the good minister christened
her he gave her the far from musical
name of Mary Jane, and Mary Jane
Trask was certainly her proper cogno-
men. But she was May from 4 baby;
May in school, May at home, and
when, at eighteen, she came home
for good" with the honors of the
seminary embodied in her diploma,
here was probably not six people in
Wildhaven who knew her name was
actually Mary Jane.
She reigned in the village by right of
her lovely face, her kind heart, her
city accomplishments and her fathers
position, for old DIR. Trask was one of
the grandees of the place, though his
worldly means would probably sound
very small if named in dollars and
cents in Wall street.
Nobody wondered when Mr. Pendle-
ton, the great city artist, came to
Wildhaven for the summer that he re-
auested the doctor to allow him to take
Miss Mays portrait, to introduce into
scene he was painting of spring.
In his hands the well-worn subject
became marvel of fresh creations,
and when he had made his many
sketches from nature he set up a great
easel and canvas, BY Mays permission,
in large, empty room ut the doctors,
and began his painting in good earnest
He had brought letters to DR.. Trask
from some old city friends, and in
Wildhaven the proprietors were not
ron fences against friendly intercourse.
Young girls were supposed to be
sufficiently guarded from insult or mis-
construction by their own innate purity
and modesty, and when May stood for
her picture in the great empty room
nobody's hands were raised in horror
because no matron sat beside her. Her
dress for these occasions was OF thin
floating muslin, cut to show her round
shoulders and arms, and her waving
golden hair fell unbound around her.
Upon her dress and in the hair were
scattered delicate spring blossoms, and
the small hands carried long sprays OF
tender green leaves.
But once dressed and in position,
Mark Pendleton desired his fair model
to forget that she was sitting for pic
ture, and exerted every charm OF his
wonderful powers Of conversation for
that purpose. And May listened and
answered, modestly and intelligently,
ill she would grow interested in her
subjects, when her large eyes would di-
late with feeling, her checks flush to
delicate rose tints and her face intensi-
" Its own beauty, till the artist sighed
10, think now poorly paint and pencil
could reproduce the exquisite face he
copied.
He was somewhat older than May,
this great artist, who had seen Europe
an cities and all the natural scenery Of
note in his own land, who had read and
thought so much, and whose pictures
commanded such high prices, but his
heart was fresh and youthful as boys.
and his love of beauty an undying
source Of delight to him.
He had tall figure and fine face,
with large, dark, soul-lit eyes, and May
thought him as handsome as he thought
her. which is saying a great deal. She
felt proud IL she could contribute any
thing to his great picture, and would
flush with pleasure when he asked her
TO sing as he worked ito inspire his
hand" delighted to pour forth her